Vajira, Vajirā: 8 definitions

Introduction
Image gallery
In Buddhism
1. Theravada
Languages
1. Pali
2. Marathi
3. Sanskrit
4. Hindi
5. Kannada
See also

Introduction:

Vajira means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, Marathi, Hindi. If you want to know the exact meaning, history, etymology or English translation of this term then check out the descriptions on this page. Add your comment or reference to a book if you want to contribute to this summary article.

Images (photo gallery)

In Buddhism

Theravada (major branch of Buddhism)

Source: Pali Kanon: Pali Proper Names

1. Vajira. A senapati of Dappula II. He built Kacchavala vihara for the Pamsukulins. Cv.xlix.80.

2. Vajira. A minister of Sena I. He built for the monks a dwelling house called Vajirasenaka. Cv.i.84.

3. Vajira. A teacher who wrote a commentary to the work of Janghadasaka. Gv.74.

4. Vajira. One of the seven Yakkhas, guardians of Jotiyas palace. He stood at the third gate and had a retinue of three thousand. DhA.iv.209.

5. Vajira. See Vajirakumari.

6. Vajira Theri. The Samyutta Nikaya (S.i.134f) relates that one day, when she was taking her siesta in Adhavana at Savatthi, Mara questioned her as to the origin of being (satta), its creator, its origin, its destiny. Vajira answers that there is no such thing as being, apart from certain conditioned factors, like a chariot, which exists only because of its parts. Mara retires discomfited.

Vajiras verses are often quoted (E.g Kvu. 240, 626; Mil. p.28; Vsm.ii.593) both in the Canon and in later works, but they are not included in the Therigatha, nor do we know anything else about her.

7. Vajira. A city in which reigned twenty six kings, descendants of Deva. The last of them was called Sadhina (Dpv.iii.20). The Mahavamsa Tika (p.128, 130) calls the city Vajiravutti. According to the Buddhavamsa (Bu.xxviii.8), the Buddhas bowl and staff were deposited, after his death, in Vajira.

8. Vajira. Wife of Sakkasenapati, the son of Kassapa V. She built a parivena, which was named after her. Cv.lii.52, 62.

context information

Theravāda is a major branch of Buddhism having the the Pali canon (tipitaka) as their canonical literature, which includes the vinaya-pitaka (monastic rules), the sutta-pitaka (Buddhist sermons) and the abhidhamma-pitaka (philosophy and psychology).

Languages of India and abroad

Pali-English dictionary

Source: BuddhaSasana: Concise Pali-English Dictionary

vajira : (nt.) diamond; a thunder-bolt.

Source: Sutta: The Pali Text Society's Pali-English Dictionary

1) Vajira, ² (m. & nt.) (cp. Sk. vajra=vajira¹) a diamond A. I, 124 (°ûpamacitta)=Pug. 30; Dh. 161; J. IV, 234; Miln. 118, 267, 278; Mhvs 30, 95; KhA 110 (°saṅkhāta-kāya); DhA. I, 387 (°panti row of diamonds), 392 sq. (Page 593)

2) Vajira, ¹ (cp. Vedic vajira, Indra’s thunderbolt; Idg. *ǔeĝ=Sk. vaj, cp. Lat. vegeo to thrive, vigeo›vigour; Av. vaƶra; Oicel. vakr=Ags. wacor=Ger. wacker; also E. wake etc. See also vājeti) a thunderbolt; usually with ref. to Sakka’s (=Indra’s) weapon D. I, 95=M. I, 231 (ayasa); Th. 1, 419; J. I, 134 (vajira-pūritā viya garukā kucchi “as if filled with Sakka’s thunderbolt. ” Dutoit takes it in meaning vajira² and translates “with diamonds”); SnA 225 (°āvudha the weapon of Sakka).

context information

Pali is the language of the Tipiṭaka, which is the sacred canon of Theravāda Buddhism and contains much of the Buddha’s speech. Closeley related to Sanskrit, both languages are used interchangeably between religions.

Marathi-English dictionary

Source: DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionary

vajīra (वजीर).—m ( A) A prime minister, a vizier. 2 The queen at chess.

Source: DDSA: The Aryabhusan school dictionary, Marathi-English

vajīra (वजीर).—m A prime minister. The queen at chess.

context information

Marathi is an Indo-European language having over 70 million native speakers people in (predominantly) Maharashtra India. Marathi, like many other Indo-Aryan languages, evolved from early forms of Prakrit, which itself is a subset of Sanskrit, one of the most ancient languages of the world.

Sanskrit dictionary

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Edgerton Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Dictionary

Vajira (वजिर).—(= Pali id.), MIndic for Sanskrit vajra, in meaning diamond (or thunderbolt?), only in verses m.c.: vajirakāya Lalitavistara 298.19; vajirasāra- Gaṇḍavyūha 56.1; 372.8.

context information

Sanskrit, also spelled संस्कृतम् (saṃskṛtam), is an ancient language of India commonly seen as the grandmother of the Indo-European language family (even English!). Closely allied with Prakrit and Pali, Sanskrit is more exhaustive in both grammar and terms and has the most extensive collection of literature in the world, greatly surpassing its sister-languages Greek and Latin.

Hindi dictionary

Source: DDSA: A practical Hindi-English dictionary

Vajīra (वजीर):—(nm) a minister; the queen (in chess); ~[re-ājama] the Prime/Chief Minister.

context information

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Kannada-English dictionary

Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpus

Vajīra (ವಜೀರ):—

1) [noun] the head of the council of ministers of a king or state.

2) [noun] the chief of a cavalry unit in an army.

context information

Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.

Relevant text

Search found 12 books and stories containing Vajira, Vajirā, Vajīra; (plurals include: Vajiras, Vajirās, Vajīras). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:

Verse 161 - The Story of Mahākāla Upāsaka < [Chapter 12 - Atta Vagga (Self)]

Verse 204 - The Story of King Pasenadi of Kosala < [Chapter 15 - Sukha Vagga (Happiness)]

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Chapter 11 - Bhikkhuni Vajira < [Part 9]

Chapter 2 - The Race Of Mahasammata

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Part 5 - The Archery Display < [Chapter 2 - The Performance of the Ploughing Ceremony]